Smashburger names chief brand officer

Mere days after naming a new CEO, Smashburger said that it has appointed co-founder Tom Ryan chief brand officer of the growing fast casual.

Ryan had served as chief concept officer for Smashburger since its founding in 2007, the chain said. Prior to that, he held branding and product development positions at restaurants including Quiznos, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut.

“As we set an aggressive growth pace, maintaining the integrity of the Smashburger brand is paramount," co-founder Rick Schaden said in a statement. “There is no better person than Tom to guide the evolution of the Smashburger brand as we enter this next phase of growth at home and abroad.”

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